The Pesky Fall & Winter Pest You'll Want To Keep Out Of Your Home (& How To Do It)

When the weather cools down in the fall and winter seasons, certain pests might seek shelter inside your home to escape the cold. Bug infestations are typically incredibly difficult — and expensive — to get rid of. It helps to get ahead of things at the start of fall and winter to deter critters from entering your home in the first place. One pest to look out for during these seasons is the western conifer seed bug. When these creepy crawlies are adults, they are brown with a yellow or orange and black pattern, and fully grown western conifer seed bugs are about ¾ of an inch long. If you identify these bugs outside of your home, take action as soon as possible to prevent them from coming inside. To do this, you will need to caulk any gaps that serve as entry points, place screens over chimneys, ensure windows are properly sealed, and spray the exterior of your home with insecticide.

After you have taken these preventative measures, western conifer seed bugs should have quite a bit of trouble entering your home. If you are already dealing with a severe infestation of these pests, hiring a professional pest control company to tackle the problem might be the best course of action. However, keep in mind that it is incredibly challenging to entirely rid your home of western conifer seed bugs once they have already entered your walls. This is why preventative measures are one of the best ways to manage pesky autumn pests. 

To keep these insects out of your home, start by caulking any gaps or holes. Pay special attention to the areas around your doors and windows. Ensure all screens are tight and free of openings. Replace any screens that are damaged. After blocking all of those possible entry points, you can move on to applying insecticide outside of your home. This is best done in September,

Currently, there aren't any pesticides specifically registered for use on western conifer seed bugs. If you're after a non-toxic solution, you could try the Wondercide EcoTreat Ready-to-Use Outdoor Pest Control Spray. For something stronger, permethrin-containing products are sometimes recommended, but be advised that permethrin is toxic to fish, bees, and other beneficial insects. Before applying any insecticide, spray a test patch onto a concealed area of siding to make sure the formula doesn't leave a mark. Once you conduct this test, apply your insecticide of choice according to the instructions that came with the product. These steps should create a barrier that helps keep western conifer seed bugs at bay.

If you are already dealing with an infestation inside of your home, you might appreciate a bit of guidance on how to remove the bugs that you spot. You can actually relocate them by simply putting on a pair of gloves and placing bugs back outside. Just beware of the strong, unpleasant smell western conifer seed bugs emit. Protecting your hands with gloves should help keep the foul odor off of your skin.